Department for Schools and Colleges
We live in a society in which politicians seem increasingly to view
education as merely concerned with preparing people for employability.
The Church has a much wider philosophy which sees the development of
the whole person – mind, body and spirit - as the purpose of education
and its ultimate aim as the development of people who recognise God as
their Father and who seek to serve Him and their brothers and sisters
in Christ. Thus, a schooling underpinned by the teachings of the
Church, and incorporating the experience of being a member of a vibrant
Christian community, has always been seen as a high priority by the
Church. During the 150 years of the existence of the Diocese the
Catholic community has thus worked hard, and made many sacrifices, to
develop a network of schools that provides the opportunity for most
Catholic children to attend a Catholic school.
Within the Diocese there are currently seventy-eight Church schools and colleges who will, this month, be welcoming around 24,000 pupils to the start of another academic year. The majority are voluntary-aided schools which are run in partnership with one of the eight Local Education Authorities in the area covered by the Diocese, and in one case also in partnership with a Church of England diocese. Fifty-five of these schools cater for pupils of primary age (4 – 11) and have strong links with their local parish/s. Ten are secondary schools, each of which serves a number of parishes and is associated with several partner Catholic primary schools. In Bristol and Bath this partnership also incorporates one of the sixteen Catholic sixth form colleges in this country. In addition there are ten Catholic independent schools in the Diocese, covering between them the full primary and secondary age range, and two non-maintained special schools catering for pupils with special educational needs.
Nationally, Catholic schools as a whole are recognised by Ofsted as achieving higher standards than their community counterparts. This picture is reflected within the Diocese where Catholic schools are overwhelmingly well regarded. This is primarily the result of the hard work and dedication of the Headteachers and staff – teaching and support – who meet all the government’s secular expectations and, in addition, reveal Christ to their pupils in the way they fulfil their duties.
The autonomy of our Catholic schools depends equally, however, on the voluntary commitment of 600 foundation governors who are nominated by Bishop Declan to serve on each school’s governing body and ensure that the character of the school as a Church school is maintained. The responsibilities of governors have been increased repeatedly by successive governments in recent years and the community owes all governors a great debt of gratitude.
The Diocesan Department for Schools and Colleges was established by Bishop Declan in 2002 to advise him and the Diocesan Trustees on education matters and to support the headteachers, staff and governors of schools throughout the Diocese. The Department subsumed the work relating to schools and colleges formerly undertaken separately by the Schools Commission and the Religious Education Centre and is responsible to the Diocesan Committee for Schools and Colleges for its work. The Committee, chaired by Bishop Declan, consists of representatives from each Local Education Authority area (who also represent the interests of the Catholic community as members of LEA committees responsible for education) and three headteacher representatives.
The work of the Department is led by Co-Directors, Peter Bradshaw and David Byrne, who undertake the role on a job-share basis. Their work is focussed on the administrative and legal implications of the running of Church schools. Trisha Antolik, Primary Adviser, and Ann Fowler, Secondary Adviser, support the work of schools with particular reference to their religious character and Religious Education. The directors and advisers spend a lot of their time ‘on the road’ working with heads, staff and governors of individual schools and providing courses and training for them. Administration (and much helpful advice on the telephone!) is provided by Jenny Fitzgerald and Joan Mansfield. If you think any of us could be of assistance to you please telephone us on 0117 902 5593 or email jenny.fitzgerald@cliftondiocese.com.
Peter Bradshaw & David Byrne, Co-Directors Department for Schools & Colleges
Within the Diocese there are currently seventy-eight Church schools and colleges who will, this month, be welcoming around 24,000 pupils to the start of another academic year. The majority are voluntary-aided schools which are run in partnership with one of the eight Local Education Authorities in the area covered by the Diocese, and in one case also in partnership with a Church of England diocese. Fifty-five of these schools cater for pupils of primary age (4 – 11) and have strong links with their local parish/s. Ten are secondary schools, each of which serves a number of parishes and is associated with several partner Catholic primary schools. In Bristol and Bath this partnership also incorporates one of the sixteen Catholic sixth form colleges in this country. In addition there are ten Catholic independent schools in the Diocese, covering between them the full primary and secondary age range, and two non-maintained special schools catering for pupils with special educational needs.
Nationally, Catholic schools as a whole are recognised by Ofsted as achieving higher standards than their community counterparts. This picture is reflected within the Diocese where Catholic schools are overwhelmingly well regarded. This is primarily the result of the hard work and dedication of the Headteachers and staff – teaching and support – who meet all the government’s secular expectations and, in addition, reveal Christ to their pupils in the way they fulfil their duties.
The autonomy of our Catholic schools depends equally, however, on the voluntary commitment of 600 foundation governors who are nominated by Bishop Declan to serve on each school’s governing body and ensure that the character of the school as a Church school is maintained. The responsibilities of governors have been increased repeatedly by successive governments in recent years and the community owes all governors a great debt of gratitude.
The Diocesan Department for Schools and Colleges was established by Bishop Declan in 2002 to advise him and the Diocesan Trustees on education matters and to support the headteachers, staff and governors of schools throughout the Diocese. The Department subsumed the work relating to schools and colleges formerly undertaken separately by the Schools Commission and the Religious Education Centre and is responsible to the Diocesan Committee for Schools and Colleges for its work. The Committee, chaired by Bishop Declan, consists of representatives from each Local Education Authority area (who also represent the interests of the Catholic community as members of LEA committees responsible for education) and three headteacher representatives.
The work of the Department is led by Co-Directors, Peter Bradshaw and David Byrne, who undertake the role on a job-share basis. Their work is focussed on the administrative and legal implications of the running of Church schools. Trisha Antolik, Primary Adviser, and Ann Fowler, Secondary Adviser, support the work of schools with particular reference to their religious character and Religious Education. The directors and advisers spend a lot of their time ‘on the road’ working with heads, staff and governors of individual schools and providing courses and training for them. Administration (and much helpful advice on the telephone!) is provided by Jenny Fitzgerald and Joan Mansfield. If you think any of us could be of assistance to you please telephone us on 0117 902 5593 or email jenny.fitzgerald@cliftondiocese.com.
Peter Bradshaw & David Byrne, Co-Directors Department for Schools & Colleges
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